The band, who worked with him for eight years, wrote on Facebook, “While Thomas had the official title of being our ‘project manager,’ we knew him as a member of our Metallica family, a fan, a friend … and a warm, helpful, supportive familiar face each time we visited France. Friday we lost Thomas, at the Bataclan theatre, in a way that none of us can begin to comprehend. Our thoughts are with Thomas’ friends, family, co-workers and all Parisians during these very difficult times.”

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On Wednesday, Eagles of Death Metal made their first statement since the attacks, also remembering Ayad, Alexander, and their other “record company compadres” who were killed, Marie Mosser, and Manu Perez. “Although bonded in grief with the victims, the fans, the families, the citizens of Paris, and all those affected by terrorism, we are proud to stand together, with our new family, now united by a common goal of love and compassion,” they wrote. “We would like to thank the French police, the FBI, the U.S. and French State Departments, and especially all those at ground zero with us who helped each other as best they could during this unimaginable ordeal, proving once again that love overshadows evil.”